Umpire Alumni

Minor League Baseball Umpire Development, formerly known as Professional Baseball Umpire Corp (PBUC), a Minor League Baseball wholly owned subsidiary, first entered into a working agreement to provide its reserve umpires to the Coastal Plain League beginning in 2008. The agreement allows reserve list umpires to continue to develop their skills in a competitive environment, while waiting for the call from MiLB Umpire Development to work Minor League Baseball games. Prior to the start of the 2016 CPL season, the Coastal Plain League and MiLB Umpire Development extended its agreement through the 2018 CPL season.

“Minor League Baseball is extremely excited about extending our partnership with the Coastal Plain League once again,” said Minor League Umpire Development Director Dusty Dellinger. “We could not have a better environment for our future professional umpires to train and gain such valuable experience.

“Our relationship with the Coastal Plain League has been extremely valuable to our organization in the sense that we can have our next available professional umpires working in an environment in the CPL that is very comparable to what they will face in pro ball. The experience the CPL provides our umpires can’t be matched and we hope that our relationship continues for years to come.”

Since 2008, 144 PBUC reserve umpires have gotten their start in the Coastal Plain League, with an impressive 106 of them moving on since to work games in Minor League Baseball. Furthermore, Nic Lentz became the first former CPL umpire to make it to the Major Leagues on April 20, 2016. Lentz served as the first base umpire during the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins game along side home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, second base Umpire Scott Barry, and third base umpire Tripp Gibson. Nearly a month later, the CPL witnessed another umpire alum - Roberto Ortiz - make his Major League debut as well. Ortiz, debuted during the Marlins-Nationals game on May 14 in Washington, DC, joining Larry Vanover’s crew for two games of the MIA-WAS doubleheader. He served as the first base umpire alongside HP Umpire David Rackley, 2B Umpire Alfonso Marquez, and 3B Umpire Chris Guccione for Game 1; and as the third base umpire alongside HP Umpire Larry Vanover, 1B Umpire Marquez, and 2B Umpire Guccione for Game 2.

“We have enjoyed working with Dusty and his staff at Minor League Baseball Umpire Development, as well as the numerous reserve umpires that have come through the Coastal Plain League during our partnership,” said CPL COO/Commissioner Justin Sellers. “We feel that our quality of play and overall atmosphere has gone a long way in helping the development of future Minor and Major League Baseball umpires. The number of alumni that have gone on from the CPL into umpiring in professional baseball is strong proof that our relationship has been beneficial to both parties.”

MiLB Umpire Development is responsible for the training, evaluation and recommendation for promotion, retention or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada.

Below is the listing of MiLB Umpire Development reserve umpires that have come through the Coastal Plain League on their way to professional baseball, and their current status:

* - Denotes umpire who was called to work in Minor League Baseball but later retired.

Coastal Plain League MiLB Umpire Development Umpire Alumni in Major League Baseball

Umpire

CPL Year(s)

Major League Baseball

MLB Debut

Nicolas Lentz

2008

Major League Baseball

April 20, 2016

Roberto Ortiz

2009

Major League Baseball

May 14, 2016

Shane Livensparger

2009

Major League Baseball

June 10, 2017

Coastal Plain League MiLB Umpire Development Umpire Alumni in Minor League Baseball: Triple-A

Umpire

CPL Year(s)

Current Status

Mike Cascioppo

2009

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

John Bacon

2008

International League (AAA)

John Bostwick

2008

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Ryan Clark

2009

International League (AAA)

Blake Felix

2008

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Bryan Fields

2008

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Chris Gonzalez

2009

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Nicolas Lentz

2008

International League (AAA)

Shane Livensparger

2009

International League (AAA)

Daniel Merzel

2010

International League (AAA)

Roberto Ortiz

2009

International League (AAA)

James Rackley

2010

International League (AAA)

Jeremy Riggs

2009

International League (AAA)

Nate White

2009

Pacific Coast League (AAA)

Shaun Lampe

2008

Retired (Highest Level: AAA)

Matt McCoy

2008

Retired (Highest level: AAA)

Derek Mollica

2008

Retired (Highest level: AAA)

Coastal Plain League MiLB Umpire Development Umpire Alumni in Minor League Baseball: Double-A

Umpire

CPL Year(s)

Current Status

Sean Allen

2010

Texas League (AA)

Erich Bacchus

2012

Eastern League (AA)

Ryan Benson

2010

Eastern League (AA)

Joe George

2011

Southern League (AA)

Richard Riley

2011-12

Eastern League (AA)

Randy Rosenberg

2011

Eastern League (AA)

Jason Starkovich

2011

Southern League (AA)

Nate Tomlinson

2010-11

Texas League (AA)

Ben Guttenberger*

2010

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Ramon Hernandez*

2009

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Kiff Kinkead*

2008

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Ben Leake*

2008-09

Retired (Highest level: AA)

David Marcoe*

2010

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Justin McPherson*

2010

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Brian Miller*

2010

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Matt Springer*

2008

Retired (Highest level: AA)

Coastal Plain League MiLB Umpire Development Umpire Alumni in Minor League Baseball: Single-A

Umpire

CPL Year(s)

Current Status

Justin Anderson

2013

South Atlantic League (A)

Brock Ballou

2012

Carolina League (Advanced-A)

Ryan Barneycastle

2014

South Atlantic League (A)

Matt Carlyon

2013

South Atlantic League (A)

Adrian Gonzalez

2012

California League (A-Advanced)

Vincent Jackson

2014

Midwest League (A)

Jordan Johnson

2013

Florida State League (A-Advanced)

Austin Jones

2014

Midwest League (A)

Reid Joyner

2012

Florida State League (A-Advanced)

Jose Matamoros

2014

Midwest League (A)

Ryan Powers

2013

South Atlantic League (A)

Darrell Roberts

2014

South Atlantic League (A)

Greg Roemer

2013-14

Midwest League (A)

Brandin Sheeler

2013

Midwest League (A)

Matt Snodgrass

2013

Florida State League (A-Advanced)

Dave Albertson*

2013

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Jeffrey Andrews*

2009-10

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Evan Barger*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A)

Nick Bayer*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Ryan Bealo*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A)

Tucker Beneville*

2012

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Jeff Bottoms*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Nathan Caldwell*

2012

Retired (Highest level: A)

Andrew Chesnut*

2012

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Charlie Clemons*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

TJ Cunningham*

2009-10

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Tyler Curlis*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Matthew Deane*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

John Durante*

2014

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Andrew Freed*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Asa Gaddy*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Nick Garvey*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Martin Gerich*

2010-11

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Richard Gonzalez*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Troy Gorra*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Shane Hardy*

2013

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Matt Heersema*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Rene Hilbach-Barger*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Ben Hughes*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Mike Huus*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Tyler Jones*

2014

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Dustin Klinghagen*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A)

Ed Leopold*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Jimmy Lott*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A)

Josh Marshall*

2013

Retired (Highest level: A)

Corey Mattea*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Brian McCoy*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Matt Moore*

2010-11

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Mitchell Morgan*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Joseph Muenzer*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Matt Mullins*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A)

Nick Painz*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Brad Polk*

2011-12

Retired (Highest level: A)

Rob Porter*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Justin Phillips*

2014

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Farris Pierson*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A)

Mitch Quandt*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Dane Ratajski*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A)

Aaron Reynolds*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A)

Jose Rivera*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Fernando Rodgriguez*

2010

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Josh Root*

2011-12

Retired (Highest level: A)

Patrick Sampsell*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Joe Schwartz*

2014

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

John Silva*

2009

Retired (Highest level: A)

Robert Veloz*

2013

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Sam Vogt*

2011

Retired (Highest level: A-Advanced)

Cody Waterhouse*

2012

Retired (Highest level: A)

Cameron Westover*

2011-12

Retired (Highest level: A)

Chris Wood*

2013

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Jeff Woods*

2008

Retired (Highest Level: A-Advanced)

Tyler Wolpert*

2008

Retired (Highest level: A-Short)

Coastal Plain League MiLB Umpire Development Umpire Alumni in Minor League Baseball: Rookie